by Banshees123 September 25, 2013
Get the Bansheemug. A spirit from ancient Irish/Scottish Celtic mythology.
From Old Irish "ben síde" and modern Irish "bean sídhe"/"bean sí", the word roughly means "woman of the fairies" ("bean": "woman"; "sídhe": "fairy mound"). When a citizen of a village dies, a woman (sometimes known as keener (taken from the Irish Gaelic word "caoin" ("to weep/cry")) would sing a caoineadh (lament); legend has it that, for five great Gaelic families: the O'Gradys, the O'Neills, the O'Briens, the O'Connors, and the Kavanaghs, the lament would be sung by a particular fairy woman.
When the stories were translated into English, a distinction between the "banshee" and the other fairy folk was introduced which does not seem to exist in the original stories in their original language, and the funeral lament became a wail that heralded a death. Hearing the cry of the banshee came to forewarn a death in the family and seeing the banshee would signify one's own death.
Most often, the banshee appears a maiden in white, combing their cascading fair hair with a silver comb (which is likely confused with local mermaid myths), while they are also shown in black or green and wearing a grey cloak.
She may also appear (near a body of water) as a washer-woman, and is seen apparently washing the blood-stained clothes of the ones who are about to die. In this guise she is known as the bean-nighe (washing woman).
From Old Irish "ben síde" and modern Irish "bean sídhe"/"bean sí", the word roughly means "woman of the fairies" ("bean": "woman"; "sídhe": "fairy mound"). When a citizen of a village dies, a woman (sometimes known as keener (taken from the Irish Gaelic word "caoin" ("to weep/cry")) would sing a caoineadh (lament); legend has it that, for five great Gaelic families: the O'Gradys, the O'Neills, the O'Briens, the O'Connors, and the Kavanaghs, the lament would be sung by a particular fairy woman.
When the stories were translated into English, a distinction between the "banshee" and the other fairy folk was introduced which does not seem to exist in the original stories in their original language, and the funeral lament became a wail that heralded a death. Hearing the cry of the banshee came to forewarn a death in the family and seeing the banshee would signify one's own death.
Most often, the banshee appears a maiden in white, combing their cascading fair hair with a silver comb (which is likely confused with local mermaid myths), while they are also shown in black or green and wearing a grey cloak.
She may also appear (near a body of water) as a washer-woman, and is seen apparently washing the blood-stained clothes of the ones who are about to die. In this guise she is known as the bean-nighe (washing woman).
The haunting sound of a woman sobbing echoed faintly, but clearly, through the night... the cry of the banshee!
by Lorelili September 2, 2006
Get the bansheemug. people are actually getting the definition of a banshee very wrong. let me quote from john allan's "mysteries".
"banshees are really guardian spirits rather than harbingers of doom, but their cry always spell disaster."
so a banshee, or a bansidhe is not the cause of death of someone, but a warning cry, if you will.
"banshees are really guardian spirits rather than harbingers of doom, but their cry always spell disaster."
so a banshee, or a bansidhe is not the cause of death of someone, but a warning cry, if you will.
by angrytoast March 27, 2009
Get the bansheemug. A beautiful girl who routinely is too hard on her appearance, not realizing she's always the most gorgeous girl in the room. She uses banshee in a negative sense, unaware of its completely meaning.
Guy: "Hi. I love the way your hair looks!"
Girl: "Really? This mess? Oh, my gosh, I look like a banshee."
Guy: "I'm not sure that means what you think it means. Banshee is good!"
Girl: "Really? This mess? Oh, my gosh, I look like a banshee."
Guy: "I'm not sure that means what you think it means. Banshee is good!"
by beautifulsg July 12, 2010
Get the bansheemug. 
A Banshee is a mythical animal that walks with 2 legs and looks similar to kangaroo with the tail and pouch but has multiple penis's one in the crotch region and one the head. They enjoy sharing jars with other Banshees by putting their own penis's inside creating a intimate feel between them
by Banshees January 24, 2015
Get the Bansheesmug. by The banshee master January 30, 2004
Get the bansheemug.